Beam



W. J. HALL March 6, 1956 BEAM Filed May 11, 1949 ATTORNEY ENToR.

WlLLIAM J. HALL Lm/Z ..4

United States Patent BEAM William J. Hall, North- Shields, England, assigner to Great- Lakes-Steel Corporation, a corporation or Delaware Application ,May 11, V1.949, SerialNo., 92,690.,4 afcnims. (ol. isst- 37)- The invention relates generallyA to. building structures, and;l it has particularrelationto aY metal beam-into which nails may be driven.

This application is a continuation-in-partof my abandoned "copending application, Serial No. 529,165, tiled April l, 1944. In certain respects, the invention` is relatedto that coveredV by my Patent No. 2,457,147 which was copending with the above parentapplication.

One object'of the" presentminvention is to provide an improved form ofpnaili'ng beam which, despite-manufacturingtolerances and variations in nail dimensions, will grip land'hold nails driven thereinto.v

i Another object oi the invention istoprovide animproved form of nailing beam which presents a highresistance to deflection while having limited spreadabilityto receive and tightly grip nails.

y Another object of the inventiony is tol provide an im provedyform of I-beam of thetype indicated which-may beeasily manufactured by ordinary metalfrollingoperations-for example, from a single sheet o f metal.

l Other objectsI ofV the invention willv become2 apparent from the, following description, from the` drawings to which it relates and from theY claims hereinafter set forth.

For a1better understanding of. the invention,` reference may. behad to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figurel is a cross-sectionalandzperspectiveg View illustrating an I-beam constructed ,according to one form, of thefinyention;

Eig. 2,is a similar view showing anotherkforrn of the invention; and

Figj is asimilar view illustrating `s till.another form of the invention.

Referring to. Figure 1,... the. beam i1.111..strf1ted,n comprises two generally channelvshaped members@ and` 11.l which areconstructed from` sheet metal. *The*A upper channel member 11, intheview shown, has sideilangesll and 13 vdisposed in` parallel relationwhilelthe lower channel has Similatanss. 14 and .15. arrangedv in the Samefples as the corresponding upper anges, The two` channel members may b e connected together at the Vcenter portions of their webs by channel shaped ribs or beads 17: and 1S formedin their webs which nest one withinlthe other. It will be appreciated that lateral movementV of either channel relative to the other is positively.v preventedy by this engagement. The internal rib,17 is deeper and the twochannels asconnected bythe ribs4 17. and 148-aret-hereby` located` in` spaced relation a predetermimidamount,A as indicated at 20,. which is not greater than the width o ff` a desirable weight nail, and this spacingextendsthe.l entire width of the beam. Rib 17 presents functionally two 'thauzasspsiated web), est in. Cassatt to. Branchennews@ f. AlC

preventing.y lateral movement. inY parallelplanes.. oft4 theV the depressionwill allow aslightamountfofexpansion, the4 anges normally areheld.against-movement eithertowards orl away from each otherfbyv thel foldedftedge. connections- 22.

In order to clinch -thelnails driveninto the nailing space 2), the outer portionsof the.webs:include.suitablerlateral projections or corrugations. as. indicated at 24.y and. 25. Hence, when nailsaredriven through. thecover 21 and into the space 2li they arebentas they are drivenl between the corrugations and it-follows that the nailslwill be rmly anchored. It will be-appreciated thatwhen-the nailstare` driven into the` space in. this mannerA the. webs of the.

channels can spread a slight amount, if:necessary,. since the metal of cover strip 21 in thel neighborhood of'v de.- pression 23 is exible-under action of the forces present when a nail slightly largerthanthe. widthof spaceli)l is driven through cover. 21 into space. 20; Thus, ay tight gripping -actioncanbe obtained 'between the webstandthe nail. Thisy ability of the beam to expand enablesit to accommodate nails of v4varying diameter-andhence makes it possible to usea rather. wide range of nail sizesfwhile still insuring good clinching of the nails. More. impor.- tant, thespreadability of the beam under.l the.. action of the heavy forces exerted when a nail. isdriven. into the space 20. permits. the beam tobemass produced within permissible tolerances andstill grip. all common nails of a given weight, despite the slight varianceintnail-.d'n ameters. In other.words, the nailing=space canbedesigned with a width slightly, less .than thediameter. ofsthe smallest possible nail in the desiredweight. classitication by an amountv slightlygreaterthan the beam. manufacturingf tolerance. Then, with depression 23 permitting the maximum necessary expansion, the.- resulting..fbeams-will gripall they nails of the desired weight.

In manufacturing thistypeof-beam, each channel member may be rolled separately and then they maybe-assembled. The, cover 211 at each side may then be applied. to each of the sidesv and the edgesvthereofV clinched in place by suitable rollsforming p art of metalrollingequipment. The depression 23 may betormed prior toplacing-,the cover in position or it may be formed after placing a flat strip onl the anges.

The structure shown in Figure 2 is essentially thesame as that shown ill-Figure l except thata pair of ribs are formed in one web ofchannel member-211, projecting toward the other web of channel member 210 to receive snugly between the pair a single rib projecting from-the other web. In this figure, the same reference-numerals are used as in FigureA l and indicate corresponding parts wherethe two embodimentsare the same.. With respect to` the varied structure, reference numeralstl andf 3J: indicate a pair of ribs carried by the web of channel member 211, which extends across nailing groove space-2i) into contact withthe web of channel member 2.10,. Reference numeral 32.indicates a rib formed in thewebof-.channel member 210 extendingy toward and.v contactingthefweb offchannel member 2,11. Asillustrated inthis surei rib 3.2.- my; t have a. depth ccrrespondins to.` the.A width .off nail- .angle members.

affamato ing groove 20 so that the central parts of the web of channel member 211 are coplanar between and on either side of ribs 30 and 31. As in the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, rib 32 presents two abutment elements 33 and 34 normal to the plane of the associated web. ln the embodiment of Figure 2, however rib 30 and rib 3l. each present two additional abutment elements 35, 36 and 37, 38, respectively, normal to the plane of the web of channel member 211. Opposed abutment surfaces of elements 36 and 37 engage the outer surfaces of elements 33 and 34 of rib 32 to thereby positively prevent lateral movement of one channel member with respect to the other. This construction is advantageous over that shown in Figure 1 in that the ribs 30, 31 and 32 interact with one another so as to reinforce mutually the abutting side walls thereof in the space 2l). Additionally, since no rib projects outwardly from either web, there is ne projection at this point to interfere with square abutment between the beam and other frame members.

The structure shown in Figure 3 incorporates all the features shown in Figures l and 2 but shows the beam made from a single sheet of metal of such character that a nail can be driven through it. As in the preceding description, the same reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in this ligure. Since the I-beam illustrated in this figure is made from a single sheet, cover strips 321 are integrally connected with side ilanges 312 and 313 and 314 and 315 of the channel members 310 and 311. The free ends of the sheet forming the I-beam are brought together in a can-type seam at 56 in the web of channel member 310. The folds of metal forming the seam are disposed on the inner side of this web, thereby providing abutment elements 33 and 34 normal to the plane of the web. As in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, a pair of ribs 30 and 31 are formed in the web of channel member 311 and present opposed abutment surfaces of elements 36 and 37 normal to the plane of this Aweb engaging abutment surfaces of elements 33 and 34 on the seam 50. The interaction of these abutment surfaces prevents transverse movement of the channel members 310 and 311. Obviously, seam 50 could be disposed at some other point in the beam and a rib corresponding to rib 32 in Figure 2 be used in place of seam 50 in Figure 3.

Since any channel member is made up of two angle members integrally united, it will be apparent that in each of the embodiments illustrated in Figures l and 3, the channel members 10 and 11 and 310 and 311 respectively may be considered as being made up of a pair of With respect to the member 10 shown in Figure 1, rib 17 can be considered to be a special member having elements 17a and 17h integrally joined to free edges on each of the legs ofthe two angles. These parts thus constitute means for spacing the legs from the web of channel 11 and means for preventing movement of the legs in the plane of the legs. With respect to Figure 3, the two angles can be considered as terminating at the edges shown formed into can seam 50. In both Figures l and 3 the angles have llanges 14 and 15 and flanges 314 and 315 respectivelyvin coplanar relation to flanges 12 and 13 of channel member 11 and flanges 312 and 313 of channel member 311. Cover strips 21 in Figure 1 and 321 in Figure 3 are connected to the flanges, the connection in the case of Figure 3 being integral.

Although more than one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modiiications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A nailing I-beam comprising a pair of channel members having webs disposed in back-to-back relation with coplanar llanges arranged along each edge, the webs including center portions and imperforate outer portions adjacent the flanges, the web outer portions beingspaced to receive and grip nails driven therebetween, lateral projections on the web outer p ortions for bending while entirely confining therebetween the forward end portion of a nail, longitudinally extending ribs on the center portions of the webs, each rib having a surface normal to the plane of the associated web, oppositely facing rib surfaces on one web engaging opposed rib surfaces on the other web to prevent movement of one channel member relative to the other in the plane of the webs and transversely of the beam length while permitting relative movement of the channel members away from each other in a direction normal to the plane of the webs, and a cover strip member extending over the outer faces of the ilanges on each side of the beam and connected to the flanges, each cover strip member covering the nail receiving space between the outer portions of the webs and having a continuous depression which projects into the nail receiving space, the metal of the depression having such characteristics that movement of the channel members in a direction normal to the plane of the webs is normally restrained but is permitted when a nail having a diameter greater than the width of the nail receiving spaceis driven thereinto.

2. A nailing I-beam comprising a pair of channels having their webs disposed in back-to-back relation and having their flanges at each edge disposed in the same plane, said Webs each including a center portion and outer portions between the center portion and the ilanges, means associated with the outer portions of the channel Webs for gripping and entirely confining therebetween the forward end portions of a nail, longitudinally extending nested ribs on the center portions of the channel webs, said ribs preventing movement of either channel relative to the other in the plane of the webs and transversely of the beam length while permitting limited relative movement of the webs away from each other in a direction normal to the webs, and a cover strip extending over the outer faces of the anges at each side of the beam and connected thereto, said outer web portions being spaced from each other adjacent the flanges to provide anail receiving space and said cover strip covering said nail receiving space and having a continuous depression along the center line which projects into the nail receiving space between the outer web portions of the channel webs and which permits limited expansion of the flanges when a nail is driven into the beam.

3. A nailing I-beam comprising a pair of channels having their webs disposed in back-to-back relation and having their flanges at each edge disposed in the same plane, said webs each including a center portion and outer portions between the center portions and the flanges, means associated with the outer portions of the channel webs for gripping and entirely conilning therebetween the forward end portion of a nail, longitudinally extending ribs nested one with. in the other on the center portions of the channel webs, said ribs preventing movement of either channel relatively to the other in the plane of the webs and transversely of the beam length and the internal rib being deeper and spacing the corresponding web a predetermined distance from the other web to provide a nail receiving space between said webs, and a cover strip extending over the outer faces of the channel ilanges at each side of the beam'and connected thereto for preventing separation of the channels in a direction normal to the webs while permitting limited movement when a nail having a diameter greater than the width of the nail receiving space is driven thereinto.

4.` A nailing I-beam comprising a channel member having a web and flanges, and a pair of angle members, each having a leg and a flange, means carried by at least one ofsaid members holding the legs of the angles normally in coplanar relationship with each other and in parallel and spaced relation to the channel web to receive and grip -nails driven therebetween, the angle flanges being disposed 'in coplanar relation with the tlanges of the channel and extending oppositely thereto, means acting between the channel web and the angle legs adjacent the flanges for bending while entirely confining therebetween the forward end portion of a nail, cover strips extending along the length of the beam and overlying the outer faces of the flanges and connected to the llanges, a continuous depression in each cover strip running along the length thereof, each depression projecting into the space between the channel web and the associated angle leg, the metal of the depression in each cover strip being llexible under the forces present when a nail larger than the nail receiving space is driven into the beam so that the depression spreads to permit the nail receiving space to accommodate the nail, at least a pair of abutment surfaces on the legs and at least a pair of abutment surfaces on the web, each abutment surface being normal to the plane of the web and facing toward one of the franges, the pair of abutment surfaces on the legs being contiguous to the pair of abutment surfaces on the web, the abutment surfaces of one of said pairs facing each other and the abutment surfaces of the other said pairs facing oppositely to each other, the pair of oppositely facing abutment surfaces being received in limited sliding engagement between the pair of facing abutment surfaces to prevent movement of the legs in a plane parallel to the plane of the web and transversely of the beam length and to permit limited movement of the legs in a direction normal to the plane of the channel web, the engagement of pairs of abutment surfaces constituting the sole means acting directly between the web and legs to prevent movement of the legs in a plane parallel to the plane of the web.

5. A nailing I-beam comprising a pair of channel members having webs disposed in back-to-back relation with coplanar flanges arranged along each edge, the webs including center portions and imperforate outer portions adjacent the flanges, the web outer portions being spaced to receive and grip nails driven therebetween, lateral projections on the web outer portions for bending while entirely confining therebetween the forward end portion of a nail, abutment surfaces on each of the webs, each abutment surface being normal to the plane of its associated web and facing toward one of the flanges, abutment surfaces on one web facing each other and abutment surfaces on the other web facing oppositely to each other, the oppositely facing abutment surfaces being received in limited sliding engagement between the facing abutment surfaces to prevent movement of one channel member relative to the other in the plane of the webs and transversely of the beam length and to permit relative movement of the channel members in a direction normal to the plane of the webs, and resilient metallic means restraining the channels against relative movement in a direction normal to the plane of the webs, the degree of resiliency being such that said movement can take place when a nail having a diameter greater than the width of the nail receiving space is driven thereinto.

6. A nailing I-beam comprising a pair of channel members having webs disposed in back-to-back relation and with coplanar flanges arranged along each edge, the webs including center portions and imperforate outer portions adjacent the flanges, the web outer portions being spaced to receive and grip nails driven therebetween, lateral projections on the web outer portions for bending while entirely confining therebetween the forward end portion of a nail, a set of abutment surfaces on the center portions of each of the webs, each abutment surface being normal to the plane of its associated web, one set of abutment surfaces facing each other and the other set facing oppositely to each other, the oppositely facing abutment surfaces on one web being received in limited sliding engagement between the set of facing abutment surfaces on the other web to prevent movement of one channel member relative to the other in the plane of the Webs and transversely of the beam length while permitting relative movement of the channel members in a direction normal to the plane of the webs, and a cover strip member extending over the outer faces of the flanges on each side of the beam and connected to the flanges, each cover strip member covering the nail receiving space between the outer portions of the webs and having a continuous depression which projects into the nail receiving space, the metal of the depression having such characteristics that movement of the channel members in a direction normal to the plane of the webs is normally restrained but is permitted when a nail having a diameter greater than the Width of the nail receiving space is driven thereinto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,229,239 Day June 12, 1917 1,253,216 Day Jan. 15, 1918 1,900,541 Buelow Mar. 7, 1933 2,091,875 Oesterling Aug. 31, 1937 2,141,919 Kotrbaty Dec. 27, 1938 2,457,147 Hall Dec. 28, 1948 

